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Net income at Safeway fell 73% in the first quarter after a strike earlier this year at its Vons and Pavilion stores in Southern California, according to Safeway management. But the company also said its 2004 performance is tracking forecasts when the strike impact and some store-closing costs are excluded. Safeway also announced Monday three board members would be replaced, and it would change some board guidelines to make the board "stronger and more responsive to shareholders," CEO Steve Burd said.

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Net income at Safeway fell 73% in the first quarter after a strike earlier this year at its Vons and Pavilion stores in Southern California, according to Safeway management. But the company also said its 2004 performance is tracking forecasts when the strike impact and some store-closing costs are excluded. Safeway also announced Monday three board members would be replaced, and it would change some board guidelines to make the board "stronger and more responsive to shareholders," CEO Steve Burd said.

Procter & Gamble, which posted $1.53 billion in earnings in the fiscal third quarter, has rewarded nearly all 90,000 global employees with two extra vacation days, a move that will cost the company tens of millions of dollars. The consumer products company also increased the number of employees who receive stock as bonus compensation.

Marketing campaigns, new labeling laws and news about elevated PCBs in farmed fish have driven consumers to increasingly choose ocean-caught salmon, driving up prices to levels not seen in nearly two decades. A survey two years ago found no clear preference for wild or farmed salmon, but the same questions this year found 58% of respondents preferred wild salmon, with just 10% choosing farm-raised.

SABMiller said it has launched a takeover bid for Hong Kong-based Harpin Brewery Group. The move comes days after Anheuser-Busch acquired a 29% stake in Harpin. The parent of Miller and Miller Lite, which bought a 29% stake in Harpin last year, said it planned to increase its ownership of the Chinese brewer, but the Anheuser-Busch move prompted them to act early.

Retail Solutions Online offers a free analysis on the advantage of using biometric technology to identify employees, rather than ID cards or punch cards. With the use of fingerprint scans, retailers could reduce payroll costs by as much as 5%. (PDF reader required).